Why Do Floors Have Beams?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do floors have beams?

The Big Idea

Beams are the hidden bones of a floor. They stretch from wall to wall, so the boards you walk on don't sag like a trampoline. Let's see how floor beams work!

Set the Walls, Lay the Beams

Step one: set the walls, and lay the beams. Strong walls or girders wait to catch the beam ends. Then long beams, called joists, span the room, standing on their tall edge.

Space Them Evenly

Step two: space them evenly. A tall, skinny beam is stiff when you try to bend it the tall way. Joists spaced about every 16 inches share the load of furniture and feet.

Deck the Top, Load Spreads

Step three: deck the top, and the load spreads. Plywood or planks are nailed across the joists. A footstep travels into many beams, instead of one weak spot.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at a floor! The wall holds up the beam ends. The joist is the hidden beam. The subfloor is the base layer. And the finish floor is what you walk on.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A 2-by-10 joist is really about 1.5 by 9.25 inches, after the mill planes it. Blocking between joists stops them from twisting. Engineered I-joists can span farther than plain boards. Bridges, stages, and warehouse racks are all beam systems.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Rest a ruler on two cups, and press the middle. Then stand the ruler on its edge, and press again. Which way bends less? Why do you think so?

Outro

Hidden beams keep our floors flat and strong. Beam me up! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!